How Successful Was Nazi Regime in Germany - Case Study Example

How successful was Nazi regime genuinely in Germany? The Nazis formally came into power in 1933. It was a unique form of ruling, political, social and economic system that would change the overall outlook and fate of German nation. It had come into force on account of the previously existence democratic system in the form of Weimar Assembly. The Weimar Assembly was a total failure owing to the absolute alienation of Germans to the kind of system. As a result the Nazis came about with aims and objectives of fulfilling the vacuum created and creating for a substitute system in the form of National Socialist Manifesto based policy and doctrine. Social condition of Germany prior to 1933: The clear understanding of Social conditions of Germany prior to the establishment and rising to power of Nazis clearly defines the reasons why the Germans warmly received the Nazis response and slogan. The Germans were directly and most actively hit by the penalties and other economic, social and political obstacles placed on them on account of the war clause guilt as well as the vendetta of the European powers who largely blamed Germany for the massive mass murder and the damages incurred at different levels. This led to the direct impact on the economy of Germany. This in turn would lead to a direct impact on the overall social outlook of the Germans. The Germans were left behind in terms of economic prosperity, growth and other opportunities. As a result, any force that would offer them anything which stood against the established norms, the setup presented by the other European powers in the form of Weimar Assembly would appeal to them. It did so as feared and expected. The Nazis provided them with hopes of changing their life styles. Giving them more opportunities to ownership, more chances of empowerment and more chances of breaking from the shackles in which they were held up on account of complete surrender before the European nations. The Nazis in contrast believed that the regaining of glory would be made possible only through the achievements and re building of the military might. Hence this not only rose the spirit of nationalism, but also the spirit of ethnocentric element and it appealed in the natural capacity as it would to the human psyche in any case and any scenario where the previous wounds were promised to be healed through the massive build up of a nation through the National Socialist ideology and policies. The overall doctrine lasted for over twelve years till the last days of the Second World War. The success and effective existence of it can be judged and gauged by the number of various factors and aspects. These aspects range from the general mindset to the social outlook, to the ethnocentric element, to the superiority complexes and the vendetta against the Jews. The education system and the propaganda as a strong tool of discarding any other belief system was a part of overall policy. The economic indicators as well as the blind following of the Fuhrer were another aspect of how effectively the goals and objectives were accomplished through the overall phase of decade long rule and ideological existence. The reasons to success: In order to assess the actual and deep routed reasons of the success of Nazis as a philosophy and ideology, it is imperative to look into the reasons and background of where the Germans stood by the end of First World War. The end of First World War brought about a virtual lowest ebb in the history of German nation who had previously held themselves in high esteem and regard. This followed by the intense pressure, humiliation and global community’s stress and scrutiny made it further so difficult. For example, the single aspect of War Clause guilt was a blow sufficient enough to damage them and provoke them. For this purpose, they needed someone who could level the score and undo the humiliation and embarrassment they had undergone in past. This came about in the form of the Nazis who made it their prime objective and manifesto to undo all the humiliation, all the embarrassment and all the injustice which they called to have taken place in the wake of the reparations and indemnities imposed upon them. As a result the Nazis manifesto was a natural strike and response of go to by the German masses. The actions taken by the Nazis were not just aimed for an outer influencing effort to earn the sympathies of the people of Germany. Rather through a holistic approach it was aimed at winning the hearts of the Germans who had previously been let down by the previous government that was democratic in nature. The Sole Cry of Third Reich: The Nazis came to power with a clearly defined set of manifesto and policy. Under this manifesto the broad line aspects of this concept included the ideals of Third Reich. The Third Reich marked the period starting from the days when Adolf Hitler and Nazis formally came into the power till the last days of their reign ranging up to 1945. In this process the party set forth set of rules and objectives to be achieved. These in prime included regaining the lost glory, bringing the culprits of the cause of the First World War to the book and isolating the Jews. The isolation of Jews subsequently meant that the other Germans were to be treated more specially and that each of them would get an extra leverage against the Jews or any other non Aryans. The fact that Adolf Hitler and his party raised the slogan that the Germans were Aryans, a superior tribe and they deserved much more and better than the other communities and parties, as a result they were deserving of the due place and that the Jews were polluting their rights. This struck as a appealing slogan to the Germans and resulted in the far more positive response from the Germans. In order to win the hearts of the people and infuse their ideas and philosophy into their mind, the Nazis created proper propaganda based efforts and policies which would work on their mind, thinking. For example a small example that carried the overall impact and impression came about in the form of literature control and promoting a pro government literature. The state had strict control on the literature and academic content that was being taught and promoted in the schools and colleges. The children from their young age would infused into believing that the Nazi party was the supreme party, there was no place and space for the opposition parties and that whatever the state did was in the best and supreme interest of the people as well as the nation as a whole that had previously been humbled badly by the outer world and European rivals in particular. The aura development of Fuhrer: More than the practical actions, it was the buildup on the mindset and image representation that led to the clear demonstration of loyalty and association towards the state and its ruling elite. Adolf Hitler along with his top squad and top generals were presented as the infallible ones who were deemed as perfectly correct in their decision making power and influences with regard to the national interests and national sovereignty. Moral rationalization: Adolf Hitler and his party aimed at winning the loyalties of his people through the card of morality and past glory regaining. In one of the prime instances where the actions led to extreme positive outcomes, the element of how the homosexuals were held against the religious, cultural perspective of Germany was highly promoted. This in turn paid maximum dividends and all those communities and population based individuals who were relatively primitive in their mindset started believing that Adolf Hitler was not just a political force who aimed at helping Germany regain their might and power, rather he through his policies also were bent upon giving the Germans the lost face and giving them a social status that was based on ethical, moral, religious and historical up righteous and morally correct code and order. The banning of the homosexual oriented activities was one similar action and account in this regard. Reduction in the number of political prisoners: An important aspect and analogy that has been presented by the experts like Nikolaus Wachsmann show how the overall mindset and ideals helped regrouping the German nation into one unit. The author of notable works and recognition has named the overall effort through the facts and figures that were extracted from the political prisoners and rebel that was seen in the initial days against the Nazis. According to the facts and figures reported by Nikolaus Wachsmann, the net numbers of prisoners were relatively higher in the first few years after the Nazi party formally came into power. This was higher on the account of fact that initially the people did not agree to the policies and principles that were set forth by the Nazis. They took upon the path of rebel and revolt against the Nazis. However, with time just as the Nazis started to delivered and as they built on providing hope and promise to the people, they started believing that the Nazis were a ray of hope against all the odds that they had previously been facing. As a result towards the rate of rebel and opposition reduced drastically. The rate of prisoners that is quoted by Nikolaus Wachsmann declined drastically and this was one aspect and reflection of how the Nazis earned the loyalties and trust of the people who started believing that the Nazis were the solution to the grace, their political representation and their social representation. Despite the given fact that the Nazis did win large number of hearts and people, the fact cannot be denied that the Nazis did use oppressive means to crushing out their rivals. The Nazi party had special elite force in the form of S.S group which was enforced for the sole purpose of crushing out any purges or any offensive that was either against the state or against the Fuhrer in the clear terms. The concentration camps were not just limited to the homosexuals, Jews or others who were the objectives and victims of the Final Solution, rather it also included the individuals and people who were believed to be in the way of the Nazis and the prime objective which did not allow any toleration and patience with regard to opposition and free expression of voice in the political corridors with regard to free and fair representation in politics. The students were forced to read from the literature that was only pro Nazis and only talked high of their policies and agendas. They were not allowed to read anything that was otherwise. There was strong censorship in the overall political ,educational, social and cultural facet of the society and the information that either went beyond the borders or either floated in into the country and the text books was first proceeded through the scrutiny and ensured that no such literature is being spread and promoted which would lead to a negative outcome. As a result all these factors and elements helped gaining the clear message and purpose of reaching to the entire nation and becoming a unifying force where they were grouped as the superior Aryans and Germans who aimed at overcoming the humiliation faced less than two decades ago. Read More